Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/171

145 THE FRENCH DRIVEN FROM NAPLES. 145 manoeuvre; but the greater part of those who chapter escaped the sword succeeded in throwing them '- — selves into Gaeta.'^ The Great Captain took up his quarters that night in the neighbouring village of Castellone. His brave followers had great need of refreshment, having fasted and fought through the whole day, and that under a driving storm of rain which had not ceased for a moment. Thus terminated the battle, or rout, as it^is commonly called, of the Ga- rigliano, the most* important in its results of all Gonsalvo's victories, and furnishing a suitable close to his brilliant military career. ^ The loss of the xhcirioss. French is computed at from three to four thousand men, left dead on the field, together with all their baggage, colors, and splendid train of artillery. The Spaniards must have suffered severely during the sharp conflict on the bridge ; but no estimate of their loss is to be met with, in any native or foreign writer.^ It was observed that the 29th of 7 Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., cap. 190. — Gamier, Hist, de France, torn. v. pp. 452, 453. — Ulloa, Vita di Carlo V., fol. 23.— Guicciardini, Istoria, lib. 6, p. 331. — Garibay, Compendio, torn. ii. lib. 19, cap. 16.— Chronica del Graa Capitan, ubi supra. — Buonaccorsi, Diario, pp. 84, 85. — Ainmirato, Istorie Florentine, ubi supra. — Va- rillas. Hist, de Louis XU., torn. i. pp. 416-418. 8 Soon after the rout of the Ga- rigliano, Bembo produced the fol- lowing sonnet, which most critics agree was intended, although no name appears in it, for Gonsalvo de Cordova. " Ben devria farvi onor d' eterno esempio Napoli voslra, e'n mezzo ai suobel monte Scolpirvi in lieta e coronata froiite, Gir irionfando, e dnr i voii al tempio : Poi che r avete all' orgoglioso ed enipio Stiiolo ritnlta, e pareygiate 1' onte; Or ch' avea pij la voKlia e le man prontc A fard' Ualia tntta acerbo scernpio. Torcestel voi, Signor, dal corso ardito, E foste tal, cli' ancora esser vorebbe A por di qua dall' AIpe nostra il pVede. L' onda Tirrena del suo sangiie crebbe, E di tronchi restn copertoil lito, E gli augelli ne fer secure prede." Opere, lom. ii. p. 57. 9 The Curate of Los Palacios sums up the losss of the French, from the time of Gonsalvo's occupation of Barleta to the surrender of Gaeta, in the following manner ; 6000 prisoners, 14,000 killed in battle, a still greater number by exposure VOL. III. 19